Spottiswoode & His Enemies

Spottiswoode & His Enemies are a New York based rock band. Fronted by Jonathan Spottiswoode, who also writes most of the band's music, the group has an eclectic and hard to describe sound, with songs ranging from rock to folk to jazz and even gospel. Several of the band's members first played together in the now-defunct Washington, D.C. band The Zimmermans.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies
OriginNew York City
GenresRock
Jazz
Alternative rock
Years active1998 - Present
LabelsNew Warsaw Records
Associated actsSpottiswoode & McMahon
The Zimmermans
Seeker
WebsiteOfficial Website

Although far from "mainstream", the band has become well known within the New York music scene during its ten years, regularly playing venues such as Joe's Pub and touring the East coast of the United States. The band also recently played in a Bob Dylan tribute at Avery Fisher Hall[1][2]

In an NPR interview, Jonathan Spottiswoode made this comment on the paradox of being a member of a well loved band but still having to struggle financially in the harsh environment of the modern music industry: "Maybe there was an illusion that was created in the '50s and '60s and '70s where there were all these huge bands making tons of money and there still are a few. But I think maybe the old-fashioned way, where you just — you're an itinerant musician and you depended on the kindness of strangers is — maybe that's the path again these days as things kind of implode."[3]

Critical reception

Paste Magazine's Steve LaBate wrote of the band's performance in Atlanta: "The longhaired, mutton-chopped British songwriter—who inhabits a possessed stage presence somewhere between Joe Cocker and Jim Morrison—knocked the crowd over with his gravelly voice, passionate delivery, dry wit and dark sense of humor[...]Toward the end of a set that inspired visions of Kevin Ayers and Randy Newman, the Enemies really showed their skills, with trumpet player Kevin Cordt and saxophonist Candace de Bartolo echoing the interplay of Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley on landmark jazz album Kind of Blue. It was nothing short of transportive."[4]

The New Yorker has said "Jonathan Spottiswoode, the backbone of this tight group, has a deep, rough-hewn voice that’s evocative of Leonard Cohen’s. He writes astringent ballads and groovy pop songs with equal aplomb."[5]

Line-up
  • Jonathan Spottiswoode - vocals, guitar
  • John Young - bass
  • Tim Vaill - drums
  • Candace DeBartolo - saxophone, clarinet, flute, vocals
  • Kevin Cordt - trumpet, violin, vocals
  • Riley McMahon - guitars, mandolin, lap steel guitar, banjo, glockenspiel, percussion
  • Tony Lauria - piano, organ, accordion

In addition to the seven regular performers, the band is often accompanied on stage by several backup singers, bringing the total line-up to 10 or 11 musicians in total. Several of the members participate in other projects, as well. Spottiswoode & McMahon perform together in a duo, McMahon is a music producer and performs with other New York bands such as The Sad Little Stars, DeBartolo has a jazz band called Seeker, and Young plays with The Grandsons.

Discography
  1. Spottiswoode & His Enemies (2000)
  2. Building A Road (2002)
  3. That's What I Like (2007)
  4. Salvation (2008)
  5. Wild Goosechase Expedition (2011)
  6. English Dream (2014)
  7. Lost In The City (2018)

Awards
  • Independent Music Awards 2012: "Chariot" - Best Adult Contemporary Song[6]

References
  1. Web page for Bob Dylan tribute
  2. Online magazine description of Bob Dylan tribute
  3. NPR Interview, March 29, 2008
  4. "Review of Spottiswoode's show in Atlanta". Paste Magazine blog.
  5. "Description of the band". New Yorker. May 21, 2007.
  6. "11th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced!" Independent Music Awards, 2 May 2012. Retrieved on 4 Sept. 2013.
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